Going back to mechanicals less maintenance
- Thread starter 2gungho
- Start date
bb7 probably the best mechanical disk brake out there right now. Have used them for years on most of my bikes and are very reliable.
Lever feel is a bit spongy on a BB7 compared to a Juicy 7, but they are reliable.
BB7'S are the best mechanical brake period. Better than a lot of hydraulic brakes on the market. If they are setup right, they have as much power as a Juicy 7 or other hydraulics that cost twice as much. Great brakes.
BB7s are the only choice for going mechanical. The feel at the lever is not intrinsically spongy, as was posted above. Rather, it can be adjusted from soft and squishy to on/off hard and solid, provided you take the time to make the adjustments (and your levers have the equivalent of what Avid calls the "Speed Dial.") If you are looking to get away from the hydraulic part of hydraulic brakes, and are happier dealing with different set of adjustments, they are a great way to go. It's also good if you are able to keep rotors pretty straight.
I run the BB7's on one of my bikes, and Juicy 7s on the other. As much as I have adjusted the BB7s, I just can't get them to feel right. They are great for what they are, but I definitely notice the difference between them and the 7s, with the clear advantage to the latter.
For the best lever feel on a BB7, use smooth cable routing and a good-quality lever with solid lever pivots. Paul's Love Lever... Avid Speed Dial Ultimate... Shimano XTR. The sloppy lever pivots on the Avid levers below the SD Ultimate will make the BB7 feel spongy.
That could be it. Thanks!